Pune: The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has taken over 25 institutes run by Sinhgad Technical Education Society (STES) and appointed the joint director of technical education, Pune, their administrator, raising hopes among teachers and non-teaching employees of receiving their long-pending salaries and arrears.The DTE order, issued by in-charge director Pramod Naik on Nov 6, made the takeover effective immediately and directed the society to hand over the administration of the institutions to the appointed officer.The latest action came after state govt, through Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), took over seven permanently unaided colleges run by STES. In an order dated Nov 12, signed by higher education director Shailendra Devlankar, DHE placed the colleges under govt management for three years.The twin interventions followed Bombay high court’s directions over the prolonged non-payment of salaries and concerns over students’ education. Staff members, however, said the interventions must translate into immediate payment of their pending dues, as many employees continue to face severe financial hardship.Observing that it has not come across any institution that has defaulted and “actually exploited such large number of employees” for years, Bombay HC had on Tuesday directed Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities to investigate the affairs of 44 institutes run by Sinhgad Technical Education Society and restrained its trustees from dealing with any of their movable or immovable properties pending such probe.The DTE order recorded that at meetings held at Mantralaya on Sept 22 and Oct 14, the (STES) management had assured representatives of teachers and non-teaching employees that all pending salaries and arrears would be paid within a month. However, the assurance was not honoured. DTE also cited complaints from students that academic activities were not being conducted properly.Naik said, “Complaints regarding non-payment of salaries and outstanding salary arrears of teaching and non-teaching employees of the said institutions were being received. Since matters relating to service conditions, salaries and other related issues fell within the jurisdiction of the university, the complaints received by the directorate were forwarded to Savitribai Phule Pune University for necessary redressal.”DTE in its notification further stated: “Considering non-compliance of the complaint, this directorate has proposed to state govt for appointment of administrator on these institutes vide letter no. 892 dated Nov 4.”The DHE order had noted that repeated directions to clear salaries and retirement benefits were not followed. It also referred to at least 13 employees who died by suicide amid financial distress caused by prolonged non-payment of salaries.The latest actions followed Bombay high court’s Nov 10 direction to DHE and DTE to take appropriate steps against other defaulting institutions. The court had expressed concern over the prolonged dispute and its impact on employees and students.Teachers said govt’s intervention had given them hope that their hardship might finally end. They, however, stressed that the administrators must first establish the outstanding dues and put in place a time-bound payment mechanism.A staffer affected by the issues at Sinhgad society said, “We were hoping that these actions were taken much earlier so that lives of at least 13 people would have been saved. However, govt machinery must ensure that the implementation is immediate and effective.”
